Council innovation award

The award, presented during the annual Everything Happens Somewhere conference, was for recognition of excellence in demonstrating the importance of implementing street naming and numbering policy that integrates with local authority processes.

The award was sponsored by the Local Government Association and presented by Carolyn Downs, chief executive of the Local Government Association together with councillor Ruth Cadbury from the LGA Improvement and Innovation Board.

Adur and Worthing councils’ successful project that saw the amalgamation of the Street Naming and Numbering Services employed across the two councils via a shared service. The judges recognised it as having streamlined services through both councils adopting one set of procedures, reduced lengthy paperwork that freed-up staff resources and also their innovation in working more closely with other council departments such as planning and building control. The project was implemented without disruption to day-to-day operations, and resulted in a much better service to the tax payer and costs savings of £28,000.

The winning entry will form the basis of a case study, to be made available as an example of local government best practice.